Many villages in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh are home to several tribal communities, including the Gonds and Baigas. While the government claims that India has entered its Amrit Kaal, these are areas which lack potable water and basic medical facilities even 75 years after independence.
In the ST reserved constituency of Mandla, the primary contest is between Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste and three-time MLA Omkar Markam of the Congress. While the BJP is holding massive rallies in the district with star campaigners, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the party’s state president Jitu Patwari have also held public meetings for Markam’s campaign.
Meanwhile, the official apathy in tribal areas remains evident while tribals claim that the election has no real impact on the area as politicians visit only during polls.
Ramvati, a 70-year-old Baiga tribal, said, “We don’t even get clean water here. We filter ground water and drink it, but when there is a flood, it is a big problem. The water from the handpump is also not good. It turns red. There is no maternity ward for pregnant women. My elder daughter-in-law died because of this.”
Ramvati’s son Sattu Singh said that tribals are deprived of forest and land rights. “Earlier, our grandfather had a right to this forest… but now the forest department says that it’s not ours. They don’t let us use it.”
Villagers point to leakage in government schemes.
Gond tribal and rights activist Charan Singh Parate pointed to half-built structures built under the government housing programme.
“The way you see these houses built here; it’s been three to four years but this is incomplete and these people are witnesses. Many Baiga families who are below the poverty line, who are supposed to get ration, are not getting it. Their ration cards have not been made. They buy and eat from the market. Same is the condition of education and health also.”
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